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Reigning British
touring car champion, VX Racing, celebrated its title-winning season
in style by collecting four awards at the 2004 TOCA Awards dinner
held at the Hilton Hotel, Coventry on Saturday.
Stuart Harris, VXR brand manager, received the winning manufacturer
trophy at the ceremony hosted by Vicki Butler-Henderson and Ben
Edwards and attended by BTCC teams and drivers. As he
collected the award, Harris said, "The Vauxhall Astra Coupes
have been very strong despite tough competition. We have
finished the season on top and have beaten the leading rival
manufacturers to claim the title for the fourth consecutive year.
We are looking forward to another year of great competition and
exciting racing in the BTCC in 2005. Well done to everyone
that has been involved in this year's success."
VX Racing's Ian Harrison was presented with the award for the
winning team. VX Racing clinched the team title for the fourth
consecutive year in 2004, finishing 176 points ahead of its nearest
rival SEAT Sport UK.
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Yvan Muller, the 2003 champion driver, took the
award for finishing second in the drivers' championship after
narrowly missing out on retaining the title for a second year.
To round off the evening and complete VX Racing's haul of trophies,
James Thompson received the champion driver's trophy to rapturous
applause. After ten years of competing in the BTCC, and
beating his team mate, Muller, by just one point to clinch the
drivers' title for the second time in three years, Thompson was
delighted, "The car has been brilliant." he said.
"It was the combination of a great car and a fantastic team –
I couldn't have done it without them. It wasn't easy, but I
really wanted to leave Vauxhall on a high and that's exactly what
I've done. Thanks to the team, this trophy is for you as
well."
VX Racing will return to defend its titles in the 2005 Green Flag
MAS British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park in April.
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